True name

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A creature's true name is its hidden name that, rather just acting as a label, metaphysically truly belongs to that creature. All beings have true names, though most of these are unknown, especially to mere mortals. Knowing a creature's true name can grant power over it. There are several different accounts of true names and how they function in this sense.

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True names were given to all creatures by an agreement between the powers in an effort to control them. They were supposed to be kept secret, but some were leaked out by one or more powers. When a creature's true name is known, a non-chaotic spellcaster may use it to cast spells such as true name, cacofiend, ensnarement and spirit wrack, which harm, bind or control the creature. It can also be used to bind a summoned fiend to make a pact it will be compelled to keep.

Each creature has a unique true name among the Words of Creation, a language so primal even speaking a word of it has a powerful effect. A character who has knowledge of this language can learn a creature's true name and use it to weaken the creature's resistance against different effects or to teleport it.[2]

The only entity that knows the true name of the Red Knight, Faerûnian goddess of battle tactics, is Tempus, whom she sees as a father figure. If anyone were to learn her name, they would be privy to every stratagem and battle plan on Toril.[3]

Video games are considered canonunless they contradict content in some other Forgotten Realms publication.

In the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark true names can be learned from a being known as the Knower of Names, who knows all of them but is limited in telling them by the gods' demanding a sizable monetary sacrifice from the asker for each name. Each individual has only one, and when it is spoken, is under the complete control of the speaker, directly compelled to do anything they order.[4]

Video games are considered canonunless they contradict content in some other Forgotten Realms publication.

In Act II of the computer game Neverwinter Nights 2, five Luskan mages led by Black Garius are slain by the PC, but are then resurrected by the King of Shadows in the form of shadow reavers, near-invulnerable aberrations under the King's direct control. Luskan's rulers, the Arcane Brotherhood, see this as a potential political quagmire and begin expunging records related to Garius and his cohorts. These records include the true names of the mages: in order to keep control of their members, the Brotherhood always collect their true names as a matter of course. Sydney Natale, however, after learning of the reavers, holds back the names of Garius and the others from the records, and performs a divination upon them which reveals the true names of the reavers. The PC obtains the list of names following an unsuccessful attempt by Natale to double-cross the player, which results in the Luskan mage's death. Speaking a shadow reaver's true name in its presence strips it of its invulnerability, allowing it to be destroyed.

In Ammon Jerro's haven, The succubusBlooden will sometimes offer to tell the PC the True Name of Zaxis the hezrou, claiming that it will please her if the PC uses it to torment Zaxis. The PC can then order Zaxis to open the portal to Jerro's quarters, or to stop speaking about itself in the third person (unfortunately, Zaxis is too stupid to comprehend this order). The True name can also be offered to Hezebel in order to have her open the portal.[5]